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Modeling Scams, Rip Offs and Bad Business

There is a whole industry that has developed to take advantage
of those who would like to become models. They are far removed
from the world of actual professional modeling. This modeling
scam and rip-off industry makes its money by alluding to or promising
great careers in modeling, but first you have to pay them up
front. Of course your modeling career never comes about and your
money is long gone. These enterprises prey upon your hopes and
dreams of becoming a star and they are betting on your lack of
knowledge about how the modeling industry really works. This
leach industry seems to be getting bigger everyday.

These enterprises fall into three categories: the scam, the
rip-off, and those that just run bad businesses. All will take
your money and give little or nothing in return.

The scam operation conducts fraudulent and illegal activities.
This type of enterprise has no intention of delivering on what
it promises. They make big promises and guarantees and usually
ask for a substantial sum of money up front, and then they vanish
in the night.

The rip-off is a big category, and it's not illegal. Companies
operating rip-off schemes make vague promises or they tout one
or two models (out of thousands whose money they've taken) that
actually succeeded in a career. They will work with anyone who
pays money up front, and they tell everyone they have some type
of talent, whether or not they really do. The rip-off companies
can include modeling agencies that charge up front for signing
fees and photo shoots, or that require you take their class before
they will work with you. Also in this category are some of the
modeling conventions, searches, and competitions. Many virtual
modeling sites are springing up all over the web. New rip-off
enterprises are starting up every day.

The bad business category includes enterprises that are trying
to conduct a legitimate business, but just don't know what they
are doing. They do not have the essential knowledge of the industry
they need or they may be poorly located. These businesses might
include someone who sets up a modeling agency in a too-small
market area, or a photographer offering to shoot professional
modeling portfolios but does not have the skill level to carry
it off, or it might be a modeling school that should really be
called a finishing school (offering classes in image enhancement,
or using outdated teaching materials). I think these businesses
mean well but they still cost money for classes or photos that
are ultimately useless.

If your goal is to become a professional model, remember that
all of the scams, rip-offs, and bad businesses that promise to
take you to that goal are, in fact, barriers to it. Watch for
the warning signs.

Warning Signs

Warning signs of a scam, or a less than legitimate, or a poorly
run agency. If you find any of these warning signs, it does not
necessarily mean the business is a scam operation but be sure
to ask a lot of questions, and be sure the business gives good
answers. Always check references! New York City is the exception
to many of these warning signs.

1) Newspaper classified ads or display ads looking for any
kind of model or talent (other than nude glamour modeling, i.e.
models for the adult entertainment industry). Reputable modeling
agencies receive plenty of would-be model inquiries so they don't
need to advertise for models. If they are short of talent they
will send their scouts out to public places to look for potential
talent.

2) Pictures of famous New York supermodels on the walls of
their offices, or these models' comp cards on a wall rack. Top
New York fashion models do not need a modeling agency in small
town USA.

3) Up-front fees. These could be signing fees, new account
fees, evaluation fees, etc. If an agency has to charge money
at the front end it means that there is not enough money at the
back end. It also means that the agency probably does not have
enough modeling work to be able to survive on commissions, and
therefore, not enough work for a model to survive on either.

4) "We are interested in you but you need to test shoot
with our photographer and it's going to cost you." Legitimate
agencies will provide you with a list of photographers that you
may go to on your own. Many will have a place by the front door
for photographers' business cards that you can take on your way
out. You should be free to go to any photographer you choose.
If the agency tells you that you must use their photographer,
watch out. A twist on this theme is when the agency provides
the photo session at no charge, then charges you a high fee(example, $700)
for a "professional" makeup artist. You will need photos
at some point but you should be free to shop around and find
your own photographer and makeup artist.

5) "We are interested in you but you need to go through
our classes first and it is going to cost you." Again money
at the front end means not enough modeling work at the back end.
A combination school/modeling agency has a conflict of interest.
For example, SAG (Screen Actors Guild) member agencies cannot
offer both.

6) "We guarantee you work." Modeling agencies are
not employers. They represent you and try to get work for you.
Most of the time they don't know for sure what type of job will
come in or what 'look' may be needed, thus there is no way a
legitimate agency can guarantee you work. The best they can do
is to give you an idea of their track record on placements. But
remember that past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

7) "As it says in our ad in the local newspaper we guarantee
you work, just like the famous models on our walls, just as soon
as you go through our modeling classes, shoot with our photographer,
and pay our agency fees." RUN, do not walk, to the nearest
exit.

A Modeling Scam

One scam operation targeted a small town in Oregon. A Los
Angeles company looking for models for TV commercials ran ads
in the local newspaper. Applicants were told to send in some
personal information and a couple of snapshots. After that the
company would contact the applicants and let them know whether
or not they had the look that was needed. Then the would-be models
were signed up for a commercial that paid big bucks and told
that a test shoot was needed before shooting the actual commercial.
Contracts, airline vouchers, and lots of official looking paperwork
were sent to the would-be models. The company would pay all the
expenses except for the makeup artist, for which they required
$500 up front. Having a contract in hand and not understanding
how the modeling industry worked, the small-town would-be models
sent in their $500. Once the checks were cashed, the scam company
vanished. The commercial, contracts, airline vouchers, and guarantees
were all bogus. It is easy to con someone who is not educated
about the industry. As the song says, "The lure of easy
money has a very strong appeal."

Classic Rip-off

Modeling Advice received the following letter telling a story
that is not uncommon. It shows what can happen when you are not
prepared for the shysters that are out there. It began with a
newspaper ad, a request for payment on photos, and a promise
of immediate work (after only the barest of interviews and without
photo testing). The operation is not illegal, just a rip-off.
The sender agreed to let me share it with others. She writes:

Hello. I read your section on modeling scams. I know this
e-mail may be long, but please hear me out. I really need your
advice on this one. I feel really stupid now. I went to a modeling/talent
agency so that I could get my singing career started. I found
this agency in the newspaper (one thing you wrote about). I didn't
even go there for modeling I went there for the agent to listen
to a demo tape I had done. He told me he could not do much for
me in that field, but asked if I would consider modeling or doing
commercials, etc. He told me I would have to take pictures and
gave me a chart to look at. Three pictures cost $475. I had taken
a friend with me who advised me to do it, because through this
I could always meet people and start my singing career. There
were many other people in the office - for example, teenagers
and babies. He asked me how I would feel about doing a fashion
show this weekend and also said he got called for a video. Now,
anyone who has met me knows that I am a bit shy and have low
self-esteem, so why would you want me for this job? He even told
my friend that I had to break out of that and be more aggressive.

Of course it was after I paid him that these questions
ran through my head. I had never done anything so stupid and
rash in my whole life. I think it was the rush of thinking I
might finally go out there and sing. He didn't tell me that I
needed to change anything about myself, which I personally thought
was odd. He had the secretary come in and take one of the photos
I brought in to FedEx it to the people making the video. Personally
I think it was all a big act. He also said it was good that I
lived in a particular area. He took pictures of me (I don't even
know if there was film in the camera) and said I could come back
in another day to take the other pictures. I was going back today,
but got stuck on the highway and did not make it on time. I called
and said I would be there in 10 minutes and the secretary told
me that I would have to reschedule because the agent was going
to a meeting, so I rescheduled for Thursday. When I had called
to cancel the initial appointment she jumped down my throat saying
that they are a professional agency and that she didn't think
I was serious about this. But this time she most easily rescheduled,
after they got my money. The contract he gave me said that they
would get 10% of what I make. I paid with a credit card and called
the company and froze my account, but it will probably go through
anyway. I'm not sure if they are for real or not, because I just
did this on Saturday, 4/1/00. I probably won't be able to do
anything about it now, but I still want people to know about
this and to be more aware. What can I do as far as that goes?
Maybe you can let the people know since you have a web site.
What can I do to protect myself as far as this matter goes? I
was also thinking about the fact that if he is not legitimate
and he does have pictures of me would he use them for other purposes?
I also called the Better Business Bureau and they said that this
company has been around since 1993 and they have had 14 complaints
in the last 36 months and they had responded to all of these
complaints. Please e-mail me and let me know how much of a scam
this sounds like if it is. I appreciate your time. Thank you.